Agents Change Allegiances

There was a time when the Julia B. Fee agency ruled Scarsdale real estate. Before 2007, the agency led the market for years but all that changed in 2007 when twelve of their top agents left in quick succession and moved to Houlihan Lawrence. More followed and Houlihan grew from 70 agents to 90 today. With sales of $300 million, those agents caused Houlihan's business to surge, and seven years later they closed 2014 with a 46.4% share.

According to Lewis Arlt of Houlihan Lawrence their current market share "comes in large part from long-standing relationships of trust, integrity, passion and professionalism. In 2007, the company became attractive to those 12 agents, because as a 3-county, family-run company, it had a feeling more like the old Julia B. Fee they loved, than their new owner, the corporate entity, Cendant-owned Sotheby's. Those agents have seen their careers grow with partnered support from Houlihan Lawnrece, and joined agents from other companies, who likewise have come aboard to benefit from the hands-on management style, compassionate service to the community, unmatched online local and global marketing, and a website that other brokers send their own clients to."

However, Julia B. Fee could be on their way back. Twelve real estate agents have changed allegiances and joined Julia B. Fee Sotheby's since the beginning of the year. Ten come from Coldwell Banker and two from Houlihan Lawrence's New Rochelle office. This brings the total number of agents at Julia B. Fee to 88. In 2014 Coldwell Banker stood in third place with a 8.7% market share, behind Julia B. Fee who held 17% of the market. With these new additions to their team, Julia B. Fee should stand to increase their share.

What was behind the shift? According to Jason Wilson, who manages the Julia B. Fee office in Scarsdale, the long-time manager of the Coldwell Banker office Linda Roth retired in December. Wilson reached out to Coldwell's agents and convinced them to make the move. Wilson says that he partners with the agents and gives them the tools they need to be successful – especially in the technology area. The agents were attracted by the promise of support and the momentum at the agency whose share has increased in the last three years.

New at Julia B. Fee Sotheby's are Nancy Simon, Jennifer Baldinger, Tracy Isaacs, Rene Wolfer, Patti Lipman, Agnes Holzberg, Lori Calamari, Alisa Kaplan, Linda Mantis and Susan Field from Coldwell Banker in Scarsdale as well as Micki Valvano and Felice Wyloge from Houlihan Lawrence in New Rochelle.

What other companies share this $800 million market? Newcomer Platinum Drive Realty finished the year with 8.7%, Prudential Centennial at 4.3% with Real Living Five Corners, Douglas Elliman, BHG Rand and Claire D. Leone dividing the balance.

Sales:

53 Penn Boulevard: New Center Hall Colonial on almost a half acre. Room for a pool. 10' ceiling on first floor, 9'ceiling on second floor and 9' ceiling in finished playroom. Approx. 1500 square feet in the basement is included in the total square footage. Incredible craftmanship and the finest materials which include: Kitchen: Statuarietto Marble counter tops, Wolf/48' gas range, Bosch dishwasher, Wolf hood, Wolf microwave and 48' subzero. HVAC: 4 zones forced air heating system. Mahogany front door.

Sale Price: $3,500,000
Real Estate Taxes: TBD

172 Brewster Road: Stone and shingle Colonial on nearly half an acre of level landscaped grounds adjoining nature preserve in Greenacres. Large, sun-splashed rooms including living room with fireplace, formal dining room, large master bedroom suite with fireplace, generous built-in closets and new bathroom with radiant floor heat and over sized shower with multiple shower heads. Six bedrooms and three new full baths. Additional features include original hardwood floors throughout, slate roof, large slate balcony overlooking beautiful, private grounds, updated multi-zone heating and air conditioning systems and a three-car garage.

Sale Price: $1,413,018
Real Estate Taxes: $27,753

6 Black Birch Lane: Located on a scenic and quiet .30 acre corner property in Quaker Ridge, this beautifully renovated home offers 2,516 square feet of open and airy living space with loads of sunshine. Three bedrooms and two full baths on second level, possible fourth bedroom with third full bath is located in fully finished, walk-out lower level. All modern amenities including gourmet eat-in-kitchen with custom cabinetry, stainless appliances and marble countertops, large formal dining room, huge living room with dramatic vaulted ceilings and wood-burning fireplace, gas heat, central air-conditioning, sizable family room with French doors out to blue stone patio for entertaining, built-in sound system, 2-car garage. Gorgeous property showcases cherry trees, a large magnolia tree and other specimen flowering plantings.

Sale Price: $1,060,100
Real Estate Taxes: $20,218

Featured Listings:

7 Overlook Road, Scarsdale: Fabulous Colonial on .73 beautifully landscaped acres with room for a pool. Built by Chillmark builders and later renovated using the architects Allisberg Parker. Bright sunlit home perfect for entertaining both inside and out. Beautiful entry hall with circular stair. Large rooms include the living room with fireplace, library with custom cabinetry, paneled dining room, office, kitchen with Caesar stone countertops, island and banquette, family room with fireplace. Doors to backyard from the family room, library, kitchen and office. The second floor has a master suite with bath plus three additional bedrooms and two baths. The lower level has a guest or nanny's room with bath, playroom/gym, second family room, full bath and laundry. The two-car garage has been converted to an indoor basketball court with 25-foot high ceilings. 9-zone heat and AC. Radiant heat in garage and office. Walk to high school, elementary school, train, and village. August possession. Learn more here:

List Price: $3,775,000

28 Fenimore Road, Scarsdale: Grand 1920s solid brick Colonial on spectacular large and flat property right near train, shops and school. Over 5000 square feet of impeccable interior space including 4 fireplaces, expansive master suite with tray ceiling, his and her bathrooms and multiple closets including room size walk-in with high-end finishes; six-and-a-half renovated baths; a huge open concept kitchen/family room with 9' ceilings and double French doors opening to large deck, slate patio and private, fully fenced, park-like rear yard. The gourmet kitchen and breakfast room include amenities such as stainless steel appliances and granite counter-tops and though the entire house has been renovated the formal living room and dining rooms have their original wood burning fireplaces, one with an authentic 1923 Art Deco carved marble mantel. Other improvements include new flat roofs with low maintenance Azek balustrades and rails, 4-zone HVAC; new hot water heater; brick paver driveway with ample parking. Learn more here:

List Price: $2,495,000